Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • Networking
    • Storage

    CISPA Cyber-Threat Bill Passes House Despite Worries Over Privacy

    By
    Jeff Burt
    -
    April 27, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The House of Representatives passed the controversial CISPA cyber-threat bill late April 26, despite worries from civil liberties advocates that it threatens the privacy of Internet users and threats from the Obama Administration to veto it.

      The House was expected to debate CISPA€”the Cyber-Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act€”April 26 and vote on it the following day. However, representatives passed an amended version of the bill 248-168, sending it on its way to the Senate. The Senate already has worked up its own cyber-security legislation, but that reportedly has stalled.

      CISPA would make it easier for government agencies and private businesses to share information regarding cyber-threats. Several top-tier tech companies, including AT&T, Facebook, Microsoft and Intel, have come out in support of the bill, arguing that the bill would make it easier for them to combat cyber-attacks and make the Internet safer for all users.

      The bill also received the support of trade associations, including TechAmerica and CTIA.

      However, a host of other tech organizations€”such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)€”as well as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have come out against the measure, saying it would give government agencies too much access to the private information of Internet users, including email messages and other personal data. Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with inventing the Internet and a staunch advocate for a free and open Web, said earlier this month that that CISPA not only puts U.S. citizens at risk, but also people around the world.

      The legislation €œis threatening the rights of people in America, and effectively rights everywhere, because what happens in America tends to affect people all over the world,€ Berners-Lee told the British newspaper The Guardian.

      Opponents€”who earlier this month had encouraged protests via the Internet in hopes of spiking the bill, as happened with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA)€”criticized the House after CISPA was passed.

      €œCISPA goes too far for little reason,€ ACLU legislative counsel Michelle Richardson said in a statement late April 26. €œCyber-security does not have to mean abdication of Americans€™ online privacy. As we€™ve seen repeatedly, once the government gets expansive national security authorities, there€™s no going back. We encourage the Senate to let this horrible bill fade into obscurity.€

      “As the Senate takes up the issue of cyber-security in the coming weeks, civil liberties will be a central issue,€ Lee Tien, EFF senior staff attorney, said in a statement. €œWe must do everything within our power to safeguard the privacy rights of individual Internet users and ensure that Congress does not sacrifice those rights in a rush to pass vaguely-worded cyber-security bills.€

      Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and one of the sponsors of CISPA, applauded the passage of the bipartisan bill.

      “This is not just a victory on the House floor,€ Ruppersberger said. €œThis is victory for America. Our nation is one step closer to making a real difference protecting our country from a catastrophic cyber-attack. This shows what can happen when Democrats and Republicans work together for the good of our country.”

      Over the past few weeks, several amendments to the bill were made to make it more palatable to civil liberties advocates, including limiting what government agencies could do with any personal communications they receive from tech companies and broadband providers. However, the amendments apparently didn€™t go far enough to appease opponents.

      Jeff Burt
      Jeffrey Burt has been with eWEEK since 2000, covering an array of areas that includes servers, networking, PCs, processors, converged infrastructure, unified communications and the Internet of things.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×